February 14, 2007
Hello from Candle Hill,
Every now and then we let one of our adult dogs be adopted out into a new family. This is the most difficult placement as we have already spent time building trust, relationship, and training of each dog. But when a special home comes along where we consider that one of our dogs will thrive better in that situation, it is time to make a decision about placement. This year, we let three adults go: Gerta, Clue, and most recently Dash. Gerta has moved to a farm in Montana where she is the 24/7 companion to a twelve year old girl. Clue's story is below. Pat has written a dear letter telling all about it. Then Dash, my solid black female out of Imo, went just a few weeks ago to serve as a Search and Rescue Dog to one of the top trainers in the Northwest. Marsha had had to put her faithful search dog down in late January. She needed another dog ASAP. Dash has a true working heart. Though I went back and forth on it for a week or more, in the end the decision was made and I let her have Dash. Seeing them work together, with Dash doing a perfect find, alert, and refind as if she had done it all her life, I knew it was right. They are a match.
Clue 
Gerta 
Dash 
If you think you would make the perfect home for one of our adult dogs, start writing me. It might take some work to get me to let one go. But when it is right, it is right and there is no looking back. Now have some fun and read Pat's story. Pat has our dog, Clue, who is out of Tag and Dagger, litter C. When you wonder why sometimes I don't seem to have a clue, now you know why. She is living with Pat.
Pat and Clue, 2006
Gosh Elizabeth what can I say about our dear Clue? As you know, I still call her OUR Clue, as you were her momma first. Many of your dog parents knew Clue as the puppy you saved for yourself from the 2005 C litter. Clue was your pick of the litter, a beautiful long coated and nearly all black female. She was being trained in HRD. What many of your clients don't know is that I was nursing a very ill and very old shepherd who was the love of my life when I first viewed Clue on your website and began emailing with you. You were ushering in a new life and I was easing out a beloved one in death. Our lives were a paradox - what brought you great joy was bringing me great sorrow. So in 2005 I found your website and began watching the progress of this wonderful little puppy named Clue. I had spent some time looking for just the right breeder because I knew my dear one was failing and our next shepherd had some big shoes to fill. Of course, once I viewed your dogs and began a correspondence with you I knew I'd found that breeder! I listened in rapt over this wonderful puppy Clue and saw her pictures on the website. My greatest wish was that we could be getting a puppy just like her! And I can even remember telling my son, "wouldn't it be cool if we had Clue?" Never in my mind did I ever think we would. This was Elizabeth's puppy and we still were nursing our old gal and would see her thru to the end without bringing a new life into the house. We wanted her to be "top dog" until the end. So Clue grew into an adolescent and we put a deposit on a litter due to be born in the spring of 2006, knowing that our shepherd only had a few months left in her. On February 15 th of 2006 we said our final good byes to Asia, our beautiful 13 year old German Shepherd and began the process of grieving. I bought a small puppy bed for the "puppy" we were expecting to receive some time in June as a way to fill the emptiness of not having a dog in our family. A series of events happened that none of us had any control over and our puppy did not come to be. As a result, dear Elizabeth, in her dog wisdom, just knew that Clue was being prepared for us all along. She had felt my heart's desire in all my emails as we came to know one another and offered Clue to me. The short of an already long story is that Clue is now our marvelous dog! She is everything I have always wanted in a Shepherd. She is loving and affectionate, but keen to warn away any uninvited with a thunderous bark. Her personality is inquisitive but not overbearing. She is animated and full of play and drive with wonderful trainability. One day my elderly mother fell outside walking with Clue. Clue was immediately at her side holding her down with one paw until she was sure mother was able to get up again. My son and I are forever grateful to Elizabeth and the wonderful dog she prepared for us.
Pat, Seth and Clue (and the Momma Cat) Dallas, TX
Thank you, Pat. We always smile when we think of how happy Clue is with you.
Elizabeth